Revisiting old Boycotts – Nestle

Ever since I can remember, I’ve boycotted Nestle products. It started back in the 1960s when I found out about how they dressed their sales people up to look like nurses to help persuade mothers in 3rd world countries to buy their infant formula to feed their babies instead of using breast milk.

I hadn’t checked in on this for many years and I thought, hey, maybe they’ve changed and smartened up and are acting in a responsible manner.

So I googled boycotts and what do you know, Nestle is still in the top 10 list of companies whose products you should boycott. And for the same reasons. Want more information? Check out the info provided by the Babymilkaction organization.

You may also be one of those people that ask yourself the question “Does it really make any difference if I boycott or not?” or use that as a reason not to bother taking the time.

That’s not good enough. Everytime we go shopping, and with every product we buy, we cast a vote. I know that’s not how most people normally think, but it’s a fact of life. Every purchase is a “vote” for that product to stay in the universe and a show of support for the corporation or people who make that product.

It doesn’t matter if you’re an activist or not. Voting by purchasing is just What’s so. So if you want to have any say in this world, boycotting can be a very effective way of doing that. And purchasing from companies or businesses that you like is a very effective way of supporting them to stay in the world and do whatever good you perceive them doing.

So bring a little bit more awareness to how you shop. Knowing that you have done the right thing when you have made a purchase is very empowering.

And don’t worry if your friends think you’re crazy. You’re not. Who you are is a socially responsible citizen that takes action to create the kind of world you want to live in. In my world, Nestle would stop this practice. No amount of money in my bank account would be reason enough to cause the kind of harm their marketing does to mothers and babies in these countries. None!!